Video Gallery

When people think of language, it is common that a spoken language comes to mind. But what happens when someone does not have access to a spoken language? Embark on a personal journey as OSU Lecturer, Alexa Paulay-Simmons, unpacks internalized audism and explores how language attitudes ultimately perpetuate the stigmas tied around deaf people— or people with broken English. Born congenitally deaf, Alexa Paulay-Simmons is fortunate to have grown up in a multi-generational deaf family and a large deaf community in Maryland where she was able to communicate, learn and explore life using American Sign Language every day. She received a bilingual education from Maryland School for the Deaf, later she went on to graduate with M.A. in Sign Language Education from Gallaudet University— a bilingual university for deaf people.

Marla Berkowitz is an American Sign Language (“ASL”) instructor at The Ohio State University and Ohio’s only Certified Deaf Interpreter. Focusing on accessibility and service to others, she strives to bring hearing and deaf individuals together by teaching in the classroom and by her work within the community. Marla’s work as a freelance interpreter gained visibility during the Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020 when her unique and highly expressive ASL interpretation was featured as part of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s regularly televised press conferences centering on the dissemination of critical public health information.

Trena Shank has been teaching American Sign Language at Ohio State for over fourteen years. She shares the story of how she found her passion for teaching and decided to change careers. Trena also talks about some of the strategies for teaching ASL to hearing students and how this work helps spread awareness of deaf culture more broadly. Trena’s story is part of the Carmen Collection, a series that highlights hidden Buckeye experiences, challenges and accomplishments that have helped shape the university.

Students signing in ASL at the Intercultural Competence for Future Global Leaders Summer Camp, part of the Arts and Sciences Summer Exploration Program at The Ohio State University. Led by Jenny Hurst and Sandhya Shanker of the ASL Program and the Center for Languages, Literatures and Cultures. June 24-28, 2024.